Puzzle.



PI VAN R. EPBEN.

, PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26. I9I8.

1 ,299,695. Patented Apr. 8,1919.

PHILIP VAN R.' ERBEN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application filed December 26, 1918. Serial No. 268,326.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, PHILIB VAN R2 ER- BEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have 1n vented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to devices partaking of the nature of a puzzle and amusement apparatus since it is uncertain in the result to be effected and aifords a measure of entertainment.

The invention relates to an appliance of the character embodying a board, objects movable upon the board and directed 1n their movement by tilting and otherwise manipulating the board and stations provided on the board to receive the object according to the result to be attained. l

Thepresent invention relates to a device of the character hereinbefore stated and embodying a board having the representation thereon of two human gures typical of .soldiers in battle array, one of the figures bearing a gun in firing position and provided with a cartridge box, the box and gun being hollow and adapted to receive objects which are freely movable upon the board, said objects being'caused to enter the box and disappear from -view and adapted to be projected from the gun to strike the opponent ligure and lodge in one of a number of pockets or... depressions according to the shot to be made which is represented by the lodging of one of the objects in a selected depression.

The drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is to be understood that in adaptinon the same to meet different conditions, various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a puzzle embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

the line 2-2 of The numeral 1 designates a board or base which may be of any dimension and Iconstruction. A rim 2 surrounds the base and receives a covering 3 of transparent material such as glass. A piece of sheet material, such as stout paper, is applied to the upper side of the base 1 and is secured thereto by a suitable adhesive. This piece of sheet material 4 is provided with the representation of two human figures 5 and 6 which are inV relief thereby providing a space between the raised portions 5 and 6 and the base 1. The figures 5 and 6 appear as soldiers of belligerent countries and are in fighting array, the figure 5 having a gun 7 in firing position and the figure 6 having a gun in bayoneting position. The gun 7 is hollow and the stock thereof communicates with a space formed in the body of the figure between the parts l and 1. The ligure 5 is provided with the representation of a cartridge box 8 which is open at its upper end to provide for the entrance of the game pieces or movable objects 9. The cartridge box 8 is hollow so that the objects 9 passing therein enter thespace of the figure 5 and are free to pass into the space of the gun 7, the latter havingjits muzzle open for the escape of the objects. The figure 6 is provided with a plurality of depressions or pockets 10 which are adapted to receive the objects or game pieces 9 according to the shot determined upon.

The objects or game pieces 9 are spherical and consist of shot or balls of any determinate size and material. Any number of game pieces may be provided for each device and the same are placed in position before applying the cover 3. The object of the puzzle or device is to manipulate the board to cause all of the game pieces to enter the cartridge box 8 and to project a game piece from the gun and cause it to enter a selected depression 10 of the figure 6 which represents a shot. The game pieces or objects 9 are to be projected one at a time and to provide for restraining or holding back the game pieces not in play, the base 1 is provided with an opening opposite the gun 7 and such opening is covered by a piece of fabric 11 or like material which may be pressed inward by a finger of the hand as indicated in Fig. 2 so as to obstruct the passage of the objects or game pieces 9 to be restrained from coming into play. After one of the game pieces 9 has been entered in the `selected depression 10 a second game piece may be permitted tov come into play so as to be lodged in another one of the depressions l0 and so on until all of the depressions l0 have been occupied in a given order. This it will be understood requires skill because care must be exercised to prevent the displacement of previously lodged game pieces when attempting to pocket or seat the game piece in play. The element 11 may be of any nature so as to be depressed to restrain the game pieces not desired to come into play. It is also observed that some skill is required to unseat the game pieces and return them into the receiver o-r cartridge boX 8.

The foregoing' description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved, form of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove eXpedient and vfall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A device of the character specified comprising'a board having figures represented thereon, one of the figures being provided with a plurality of depressions and the remaining figure having' an extended hollow member and game pieces movable on the board and adapted to be projected from the said hollow member and to lodge in any l one of the said depressions.

SZ.` A device of the character specified, comprising a base provided with a plurality of depressions, a hollow figure thereon provided with a hollow memberfha-Vng an 011tlet and said figure having an inlet and game pieces movable on the board. and adapted to enter the inlet of the hollow figure and to be projected from the hollow member to be received in any one of the said depressions.

3. A device of the character specified, comprising a base provided with a plurality of depressions, a hollow 'iigure thereon provided with a hollow member having an outlet and said figure having an inlet and game pieces movable on the board'and adapted to enter the inlet Vof the hollow ligure and to be projected from the hollow member to be received in any one of the said depressions, said base having a depressible portion oppo site the hollow member for obstructing the passage of the game pieces required to be withheld from coming into play.

4. A device of the character specified comprising a base, two hollow figures on-the base representing belligerent soldiers in battle array one of the figures having ar plurality of depressions and the remaining figure having a hollow gun in firing position and having a receiver representing a cartridge box, said base having a depressible portion opposite the gun and gamel pieces on the base adapted to be projected from the gun and lodge in a selected depression of' the enemy ligure.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP vVAN RERBEN.

Witnesses:

HELEN L. ERBEN, A CARL W. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

